HistoricalSocioculturalPsychosocialNarrative

important to understand historical context in understanding the identity formationprocess. identity is a social construct

the role that society plays in providing (or not providing) individual identityalternatives

integrates both societal & psychological factors at play in developing andmaintaining personal identity. Erik Erikson first to appreciate the psychosocial nature of identityand recognized the important role of community

Identities are constructed, justified and maintained via language and storytelling.This approach can be found among many other approaches however, it is also considered as anapproach within its own.

refers to how someone thinks about themselves.

a positive driving force in personality and identity development

Erikson (1956) generally credited as the first to bring scientific attention to identity and to make it popular Trained under Freud in ViennaRole of the ego = establish and maintain a sense of identify First used the term ego identity to describe a central disturbance in the psychological lives of some veterans returning from World War II

involves a subjective feeling of self-sameness and continuity over time (the same in different places and different social settings

is at all times an organism, an ego and a member of society and is involved in all three processes of organization

Individual's physical appearance, physical capacities, and limitations provide one with a sense of "bodily self". Adaptation as one ages

provide opportunities for expression as well as recognition of biological and psychological needs and interests

involves finding social roles and niches within the larger community that provide a "fit" for one's biological and psychological capacities and interests

Erik Erikson (1902-1994) proposed eight stages of development (infancy to older adulthood)Stages are characterized by a specific crisis that the individual must resolve (psychosocial tasks requiring resolution at different stages of the life span)

Trust vs. Mistrust: 0-18monthsAutonomy versus Shame and Doubt (18months to 3yrs)Initiative versus Guilt (3-6years)Industry versus Inferiority (6-12 years)Identity versus Role Confusion (12-20 years, Adolescence to early adulthood)Intimacy versus Isolation (early adulthood)Generativity versus Stagnation, Adulthood Integrity versus Despair, Maturity

1: trust vs. mistrust and Stage 5 - identity vs. identity confusion

Infants' development relates to whether they can or cannot trust their worldIf infants' needs are met: emerge considering the world a safe and dependable place. Enters subsequent stages with hope. If infants' needs are no met: emerge with a sense of the world being untrustworthy

Erikson's second stage - child must develop a strong sense of autonomy while adjusting to social demandsToddlers have the capacity to move about and do a number of things on their own. Forming a sense of self-control without loss of self-esteem = lasting sense of autonomy and pride.

Erikson's third stage- children identify with and learn from parents, must achieve a balance between initiative and guiltFreedom to explore and experiment tends to develop initiativeThose restricted and find that their use of initiative is oppressed tend to develop a sense of guilt about pursuing their interests

Erikson's fourth stage - children must achieve cognitive and social skills, work industriously and cooperateDevelop a sense of industry - usually through praise from a significant otherORDevelop feelings of inadequacy or inferiority - lacking experiences of success Establishes the basis for one's attitudes toward finding and completing later identity-defining tasks

Erikson's fifth stage- critical stage for achievement of identity, physical changes are accompanied by sexual urges and strong social pressuresIndependence from parents

The counterpoint of identity Refers to the inability to make moves toward identity-defining commitmentsProblems with sense of industry?Necessary to experience some kind of role confusion - letting go of childhood and forging one's own commitments in life

Identity crisisforeclosurenegative identitymoratorium

a key turning point in one's identity development

a premature closure on identity

greater attention on negative identity, maladaptive identity resolution whereby an individual bases an identity on all the identifications and roles presented to them in their earlier development as being undesirable or even dangerous (e.g., preacher's daughter found among narcotics addicts)

one lives "suspended". Delay of adult commitments

1. Social actors2. Motivated agents3. Autobiographical authors

Develop earlier than other layers. Temperament early developing building block of personality. Typical way infants behave, express their emotions. Traits make up a person's individuality (e.g., shy, impulsive)

How people act on their needs, values, goals, and motivations. Ones own individual wishes. People make efforts to actualize their goals (e.g., educational aspirations).

Internalized and evolving self-narrative

synthesizes many me (self-concepts) elements and provide "coherence and unity through the passage of time and discrepant"

portrays the characteristic ways - "I" arranges elements of the me into a temporal sequence (settings, plot characters)

What is a life story in terms of structure and content?What is the function of a life story? How does a life story develop over time? What kinds of individually different life stories are there? What constitutes an optimal life story?

an understanding of the whole person, how life experiences are integrated. Opposed to understand of isolated values, accomplishments, or other personality features.

relates it to past experiences, and determines appropriate responsedifficult to examine through traditional empirical research.

Ethnographic studies Cases studies and biographical studies of single individualsWith qualitative method, researchers can build a complex, holistic picture of an individual, examined in a naturalistic setting. Semi-structured interviewQualitative work and Finding themes

narrative

stories that we tell to others about ourselves and the stories that we hear about ourselves from others

= dynamic collection of self-defining memories that are in narrative form & can be organized by major life periods

to recall memories for past events, self-reflect on these events, & organize events based on personal meaning that they hold

= insights about life events & attributing one's behaivour to characteristics (such as prior experience)

of formative experiences

complex cognitive reasoning

begin to talk

refers to richer, more descriptive information being present

= include information about emotional states and subjective judgments

also affects quality of children's emerging narratives, specifically the evaluative nature of early childhood reminiscing

An emotional bond with a specific person that is enduring across space and time

"I love you because you feed me"FreudCaregiver provides gratification of innate drive to obtain pleasure Feeding = oral gratification = attachment

"Perhaps I was born to love"Individual differences in the quality and quantity of care provided by caregivers would inevitably give rise to differences in development and to emergent secure or insecure control systems.

Standardized laboratory measureSeries of increasingly stressful episodes of separations and reunions

Secure, Insecure-Avoidant, and Insecure-Ambivalent.

high-quality pattern of attachment with attachment figure.

children who combine strong contact (and often hostility) with resistant contact, or remain inconsolable and are unable to return to exploration.

Infants or young children seem somewhat indifferent toward their caregiver and may even avoid the caregiver.

can be viewed as affective/cognitive constructs that develop during behavioural interaction and communication between the young child and his/her principle caregivers.

Most children fall into this category Children generally happy, and enjoy being around their parentChildren feel protected by their caregivers, & they know that they can depend on them to return

Children not confident that their caregiver will be protected or comforted by their caregivers. As a result, insecurely attached children can struggle with self-soothing and regulating negative emotion.

chronological age (11-14 years) and psychosocial tasks (individual will experience many different tasks)

More complex ways of thinking (formal operations)

The complex sequence of biological changes. Process of becoming a sexually mature adult, reproducing capabilities, gaining the height, weight, body contours, and increased strength and tolerance for the physical activity of adulthood

moving from elementary to a junior high or middle school

(biological, social, and psychological) affect identity during early adolescence

The 'growth spurt"Increases in and redistribution of body fat and muscle tissueChanges in circulatory and respiratory systems (new found abilities in strength andendurance)Maturation of secondary sexual characteristics and reproductive organs, andChanges in hormonal and endocrine systems (regulating the timing pubertal events)

beginning of puberty and the transition into early adolescence

"as some social recognition, in ceremonial form, of the transition from childhood into either adolescence or full adulthood"

ambivalence on the part of society and adolescents themselves regarding role expectations for youth

ideal conditions for ego growth and identity development among adolescents (no imposed order)

during childhood gradually decreases. Now, youth expected to be more cooperative with others